Playful Meadow Mama Coneflower

Playful Meadow Mama Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea 'Playful Meadow Mama')

Playful Meadow Mama Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea 'Playful Meadow Mama') is a cheerful, long blooming coneflower known for its distinctive bicolor petals�rosy pink brushed with creamy white tips�surrounding a warm copper cone. From early summer into fall, this compact, well branched selection delivers eye catching color, tidy habit, and dependable performance in sunny borders, cottage gardens, and patio containers.

Distinctive Features

Single to softly semi double daisies open bright pink with playful white petal tips and a subtle magenta halo at the cone. Petals may spoon or lightly ruffle, adding movement and texture. Strong, weather resistant stems hold blooms upright through heat and wind, while continuous bud set sustains the show for months. Flowers are nectar rich for bees and butterflies; dried cones provide late season texture and natural seed for finches.

Growing Conditions

• Sun Exposure: Full sun for best flowering; light afternoon shade acceptable in very hot climates.
• Soil: Well drained garden soil; adapts to loam, sandy, or lightly rocky sites.
• Water: Moderate; water to establish, then allow the top inch of soil to dry between waterings.
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9.
• Mature Size: Typically 18 to 24 inches tall and 16 to 22 inches wide.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: High contrast bicolor petals pop in mixed borders.
• Pollinator Gardens: Reliable nectar source for bees and butterflies.
• Cut Flowers: Long, sturdy stems and distinctive blooms for lively bouquets.
• Containers: Compact, upright habit suits patio pots and entry planters.
• Mass Plantings: Plant in drifts for a ribbon of playful summer color.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Deep, infrequent watering once established; avoid chronically wet soils.
• Deadheading: Remove spent blooms to extend flowering; leave some late cones for birds.
• Fertilizing: Light spring feeding with slow release fertilizer or compost.
• Staking: Not required; naturally sturdy stems.
• Cleanup: Cut back in late fall or early spring to refresh growth.

Why Choose Playful Meadow Mama Coneflower?

• Charming Bicolor Blooms: Pink petals tipped in creamy white for a playful look.
• Extended Season: Flowers for months with minimal care.
• Landscape Tough: Heat and drought tolerant once established.
• Wildlife Friendly: Excellent nectar source and winter seed.
• Compact and Uniform: Reliable habit ideal for beds and containers.

Echinacea purpurea 'Playful Meadow Mama' pairs whimsical, high contrast color with sturdy, low maintenance performance, delivering a long lasting, pollinator friendly highlight for sunny landscapes and patio planters.